WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2016/97 by Konstadinos KLIRONOMOS to the Commission. Greek ferries between Greece and Italy
Date: 1997-06-11
Institutions: European Parliament, KLIRONOMOS
Subjects: Greece, ferryboat, freight rate, international market, international tariff, maritime cabotage, maritime transport, protective clause, transportation tariff

C 21/134

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

22. 1. 98

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission

(18 July 1997)

The  Commission  would  refer  the  Honourable  Member  to  its  answer  to  Written  Question  P-1961/97  by
Mrs Riis-Jłrgensen (1).

(1)  See page 127.

(98/C 21/252)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2016/97

by Konstadinos Klironomos (PSE) to the Commission

(11 June 1997)

Subject: Greek ferries between Greece and Italy

On 24 February 1997, the Commission sent a critical report to a number of Greek shipping companies following
an investigation into Greek ferry services between Greece and Turkey..

In its report, the Commission refers to a number of facts and concludes that the companies involved had been
acting in collaboration over a long period of time to fix their rates on the international sector of the ferry market
between Greece and Italy, in breach of Article 85 of the Treaty.

On 17 March 1995, the Greek Government sent a letter to the Commission pointing out that, because Greece does
not have common borders with the other EU Member States, the continuous and unhampered operation of ferry
services between Greece and Italy was regarded as a service in the public interest. Moreover, the Ministry for
Merchant Shipping had urged the companies involved to avoid engaging in unfair competition in ferry services
between Greece and Italy.

If the companies involved were to be fined for a serious breach of Article 85 of the Treaty, the viability of the
Greek-Italy service would be severely undermined, which would have a very serious negative impact on the
future of Greek national policy in regard to that particular route.

In view of the above, will the Commission say whether it has duly taken account of the content of the Greek
Government(cid:146)s  letter  of  17  March  1995  and  what  measures  it  will  take  to  avert  the  possibly  disastrous
consequences of drawing the mistaken conclusion that the companies involved were knowingly in breach of
Article 85 of the Treaty over a number of years?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert on behalf of the Commission

(7 July 1997)

The  Commission  has  noted  carefully  the  contents  of  the  letter  of  17  March  1995  to  which  the  Honourable
Member refers, and also the arguments made by the parties during the hearing which was held on 13-14 May
1997, and in their written replies to the Commission’s statement of objections of 24 February 1997.

Note  has  also  been  taken  of  the  public  service  obligations  for  which  the  ministry  of  Merchant  Marine  is
responsible, although it is also clear to the Commission that the ministry does not interfere in the price setting
mechanism on international routes. The Commission is, of course, fully aware of the importance of international
maritime transport for the Greek economy.

Should the Commission decide to proceed towards a negative decision in this case, it will take all of the relevant
factors  into  consideration,  particularly  when  it  comes  to  assessing  the  gravity  of  the  infringement.  Any  such
decision  will  not  be  taken  prior  to  the  consultation  of  the  advisory  committee  on  restrictive  practices  and
dominant positions in maritime transport where the competition and transport experts of the Member States will
be asked for their opinion on the case.